Terminal end for coiled springs



Jan. 14, 1936. A. H. FLORETH 2 TERMINAL END FOR COILED SPRINGS Filed NQV. 22. 1954 IN VEN TOR: ALVIN Ii FLORETH Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,028,122 [TERMINAL END FOR COILED SPRINGS Alvin H. Floreth, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gardner Wire 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1934, Serial No. 754,295

2 Claims.

"My invention relates to coiledwire springs, and

isparticularly directed to a terminal or end memher for the type of springs commercially known as extension springs.

Extension springs are made and sold in a variety of lengths, diameters and gauges of wire;

. quired and such ends are not alreadyformed in the wire ithas' been the practice to bend one or more of the end convolutionsinto the shape desired, but this is frequently difficult to do because coiled spring becomes stretched and as a temporary expedient the mechanic will shorten the length of the spring by severing several convolutions and then attempt to form a loop in the manner suggested. It is also the practice to cut off a piece the desired size from a relatively long piece of coiled spring that may be at hand and form the loops at the ends of the cut-off piece.

The primary purpose of my invention is to provide a terminal for coiled wire springs that is provided with either a hook or a ring or eye, and is separatefrom the spring itself so that it may be readily assembled upon either end of said spring.

Broadly stated, my invention consists of a member that cooperates with the spiral convolutions at the end of a coiled spring and is provided with a loop that is disposed diametrically across the axis of the spring coil. In order to cooperate with the spiral spring I provide an end member with spiral portions that interfit or are disposed between the convolutions of the spiral wire forming the spring. A simple exemplification of this structure is the use of a wire coil having an outside diameter slightly greater than' the inside diameter of thecoiled wire spring. The pitch of the coils in the end members corresponds with the pitch of the coiled wire the spiral spring so that the parts may be joined by a rotative screwing action.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a structure of the kind disclosedthat is dependable in performing its functions. Other objects reside in providing a terminal end member that may be readily, assembled with a coiled wire spring by a single operation; that is novel in construction; that is strong and durable; and

which is cheap 'to manufacture so that it may be sold to the consumer for a reasonable retail price. Further objects and advantages will be apparent to others skilled in the art after my invention is understood from the following detailed explanation.

In the drawing:

Figure l'is a longitudinal view of a length of coiled wire spring and end members exemplifying my invention, drawn to an enlarged scale and in section at one end. Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

The spring shown is preferably of the extension type and is designated generally by the numeral 5. This spring consists of a piece of wire that is wound spirally with the convolutions normally in contact or engagement with each other as shown inFigure 1. "The wire of which the spiral is formed ispreferably round or circular in crosssection. These extension spiral springs are carried in stock in different lengths in hardware stores and the like, and they are of numerous diameters and gauges of wire so as to adapt them to many useful purposes.

It is desirable, of course, to provide loops such as hooks and rings or eyes at the ends of the spring for connecting the respective ends to the parts it is necessary to hold in yieldable position, and in order to do this the springs that are carried in stock'are usually provided with integral loops at their ends that are formed by bending the respective ends of the wire into the desired formation. It frequently occurs, however, that a stock spring may be of the desired diameter and gauge of wire but it may be too long for the required purpose and it then becomes necessary to shorten the spring by severing the wire to remove several of the convolutions and then bend the end portion of the wire into the desired loop. This procedure is difiicult and it is not dependable because of the fact that the metal wire is highly tempered and frequently ruptures when sharply bent in forming the loop.

It is to overcome the above described inherent obj ectionthat I have devisedthe structure herein disclosed which consists of forming the mounting hooks and rings upon members separate from the spring and inserting them either inside or outside the coil by a screwing rotative movement.

In Figure 1 the spiral spring 5 is plain or unformed at its ends and the terminal formations consisting of the hook G and the ring or eye 1 are made upon parts that coact with the interior face of the spiral spring.

The hook 6 and ring '1 may be formed at the ends of short wire coils so that the latter provide separate end members that terminate in approximately the transverse plane indicated by thedotted line 9 in Figure 1. These end mem- .bers, being of coiled wire, each has a periphery that is shaped to form spaced portions to interfit or engage between the convolutions of the spiral spring 5 and they may be readily screwed into the ends of the latter. The extensions that are formed into the hooks 6 and rings 1 are disposed at the outer ends of the end members and project.

spring and may be disposed upon the outside of the coils of spring 5.

The inner member which carries the end loops is made of wire of the same gauge as the spring and has its convolutions preferably separated to provide spaces 8 between them as shown. This spacing is done during the coiling or winding of the spiral end member 8.

When this spiral end member is inserted into the spring 5 the convolutions of the former are forced between the end convolutions of the spiral spring 5 and cause them to separate farther than the other convolutions as shown at 5 in Figure 1. The convolutions intermediate the ends of the spiral spring 5 will remain in their normal relation. r

In the structure herein described the end portion thereof, which includes the spiral wire spring and the spiral wire member, retains its transverse flexibility and is expandable longitudinally.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated spiral wire spring that is transversely flexible through its length and having convolutions of uniform pitch, and a universally flexible terminal member engaged with a plurality of convolutions at an end of said spring, said member consisting of a spiral wire spring having a plurality of convolutions of greater pitch than the convolutions of the spring which are engaged by said member and thereby force the plurality of engaged spring convolutions to a wider pitch than their normal pitch and maintain said engaged convolutions under tension, whereby the end portion of the spiral wire spring and the spiral wire member engaged therewith retain transverse flexibility and are expandable longitudina-lly.

2. A device .of the kind described comprising an elongated spiral wire spring that is transversely flexible throughout its length and with its convolutions normally in contact, and a uni- 'and maintain said convolutions under tension,

whereby the combined end portion of the spiral spring and said spiral spring member engaged therewith retain transverse flexibility and are expandable longitudinally.

ALVIN H. FLORETH. 

